Multichamber ampoule for dispensing a mixture consisting of several substances

ABSTRACT

A multichamber ampoule with a locking and dispensing mechanism to store several substances and to dispense a mixture consisting of several substances, possessing a multiple-plug closure ( 140 ) with several plugs to selectively close and open several outlet openings in the multichamber ampoule, and an adapter ( 130 ) for mixing the substances and dispensing the mixture, wherein the multiple-plug closure ( 140 ) and the adapter ( 130 ) are connected to each other in an assembly designed to be removed from the multichamber ampoule (FIG.  23 ).

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of European PatentApplication No. 04 016 844.5 filed on Jul. 16, 2004.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multichamber ampoule for dispensing amixture consisting of several substances.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Multichamber ampoules are known from EP 1 203 593 A1. The multichamberampoule disclosed in EP 1 203 593 A1 was invented by the inventor of thepresent invention and designed as a single-use disposable article. Aneed exists for a multiuse multichamber ampoule.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is to create a multichamber ampoule thatis suitable for multiple use, easy to handle, and inexpensive tomanufacture. This objective is achieved by providing a multichamberampoule in which an adapter and multiple-plug closure can be replaced.

The invention makes it possible to separate the adapter together withthe multiple-plug closure from the container of the multichamber ampouleimmediately after using the multichamber ampoule, and replace it with anew adapter and multiple-plug closure assembly. An advantage of theinvention is that not only can the adapter be separated from thecontainer and discarded without requiring additional steps, but themultiple-plug closure can also be discarded. With removal of themultiple-plug closure, residual substance that was dispensed from thechambers and adhered to the closure as well as the portion stillcontained in the chambers can be removed. The newly assembled adapterwith multiple-plug closure assembly then closes off only portions of thesubstances in the chambers that have not yet come in contact with eachother.

The solution according to the invention provides in principle for anassembly consisting of an adapter and a multiple-plug closure for amulti-use multichamber ampoule, in which the multiple-plug closure ismounted on the adapter so as to be freely rotatable but is otherwiseessentially not slidable, so that the assembly can be inserted into acontainer simply by manipulation of the adapter, can be removed from thecontainer, and can be made operational in its inserted state as neededby sliding and/or rotating the adapter.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, catchesare formed on the adapter and on the multiple-plug closure such that theadapter and the multiple-plug closure can interact with each other toengage in a particular rotational position. This has the advantage thatwhen the assembly is first inserted into the container, only therotational angle of the adapter has to be adjusted, and themultiple-plug closure automatically assumes a rotational position suchthat the plugs of the multiple-plug closure are aligned with the outletopenings of the chambers.

According to a further development of the invention, a radial ortransverse projection is formed to project laterally from themultiple-plug closure, and a recess is formed on the container. Therecess interacts with the projection such that the multiple-plug closurecan only be inserted in a prescribed rotational position such that theplugs are aligned with the outlet openings of the chambers. This alsofacilitates the initial insertion of the assembly, particularly incombination with the above-described rotational engagement between theadapter and multiple-plug closure.

The above-described rotational alignment of the multiple-plug closureand container facilitates initial insertion, particularly when theoutlet openings of the chambers and the plugs that fit into them havedifferent cross-sectional dimensions. If a static mixer is provided inthe dispensing channel of the adapter, of course the mixer will also bereplaced when the adapter and multiple-plug closure assembly isreplaced.

The foregoing and other objectives and advantages of the invention willappear from the following description. In the description, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in whichthere is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of theinvention. Such embodiment does not necessarily represent the full scopeof the invention, however, and reference is made therefore to the claimsherein for interpreting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below usingdiagrams in the below described Figures, in which invisible edges aremarked with broken lines in several diagrams for better visualization.

FIG. 1 shows a partial lateral sectional view of a first embodiment of amultichamber ampoule according to the invention in closed state;

FIG. 2 shows a partial lateral view from the same perspective as in FIG.1 of a multichamber ampoule in the activated state;

FIG. 3 shows a partial lateral sectional view of the multichamberampoule in the emptied state from the same perspective as in FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 shows a lateral sectional view of a container of the multichamberampoule;

FIG. 5 shows a lateral view of the container rotated 90° in relation toFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the container depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 shows a lateral view of a plunger assembly of the multichamberampoule;

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the plunger assembly depicted in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a lateral sectional view of an adapter of the multichamberampoule;

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the adapter depicted in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a lateral view of the adapter rotated 90° in relation toFIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the adapter depicted in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows an enlarged side view of a multiple-plug closure of themultichamber ampoule;

FIG. 14 shows a top view of the multiple-plug closure depicted in FIG.13;

FIG. 15 shows a lateral sectional view of the multiple-plug closuredepicted in FIGS. 13 and 14

FIG. 16 shows a lateral view of a container of a second embodiment of amultichamber ampoule according to the invention;

FIG. 17 shows a lateral view of the container rotated 90° in relation toFIG. 16;

FIG. 18, a top view of the container depicted in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 shows a lateral sectional view of an adapter of the secondembodiment of the multichamber ampoule;

FIG. 20 shows a lateral view of the adapter rotated 90° in relation toFIG. 19;

FIG. 21 shows a lateral view of a multiple-plug closure of the secondembodiment of the multichamber ampoule;

FIG. 22 shows a top view of the multiple-plug closure depicted in FIG.21;

FIG. 23 shows a lateral sectional view describing a rotationalconnection between adapter and multiple-plug closure;

FIG. 24 shows a lateral view of a part of the rear section of theadapter depicted in FIG. 19, and a lateral sectional view of a slidablestop piece in the form of a clip on the rear section of the adapter;

FIG. 25 shows a top view of the clip depicted in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 shows a partial lateral sectional view of the adapter andcontainer of a first further development of the first embodiment in theclosed state;

FIG. 27 shows a top view of the container depicted in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 shows a partial lateral sectional view of the adapter andcontainer of the first development of the first embodiment depicted inFIG. 26 in the activated state;

FIG. 29 shows a top view of the container depicted in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 shows a partial lateral sectional view of the adapter andcontainer of a second development of the first embodiment in the closedstate;

FIG. 31 shows a top view of the container depicted in FIG. 26;

FIG. 32 shows a partial lateral sectional view of the adapter andcontainer of the second development of the first embodiment depicted inFIG. 26 in the activated state; and

FIG. 33 shows a top view of the container depicted in FIG. 32.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 1 through 15 isprovided in the form of double-chamber ampoule 100. Double-chamberampoule 100 according to the invention consists mainly of fourcomponents: container 10, plunger assembly 20, adapter 30, andmultiple-plug closure 40.

As is evident in particular from FIGS. 4 through 6, container 10 has twotube-shaped chambers 12 and 14 that are arranged parallel to each otherand that extend along the length of container 10. Chambers 12 and 14 areopen along their entire cross-section at the back end. Back plate 18that projects in a transverse or radial direction is formed on theexternal sides of the back ends of chambers 12 and 14. The front ends ofchambers 12 and 14 are connected to each other by front plate 18. Outletopening 11 for chamber 12 and outlet opening 13 for chamber 14 areprovided in front plate 18. Whereas chambers 12 and 14 adjoin at theunderside of the front plate 18, neck 15 is formed at the top side offront plate 18 in such a way that neck 15 surrounds outlet openings 11and 13. Likewise to chambers 12 and 14, neck 15 extends along the lengthof the container 10. In the present embodiment, chamber 14 has across-section four times larger than chamber 12. Accordingly, thecross-section of outlet opening 13 is four times larger than that ofoutlet opening 11.

As is evident in particular from FIGS. 7 and 8, the plunger assembly 20comprises two plunger rods 22 and 24, whose back ends are connected bymeans of pressure plate 26. Plunger 21 for chamber 12 is provided at thefront end of plunger rod 22. Plunger 23 for chamber 14 is provided atthe front end of plunger rod 24. Plungers 21 and 23 have externalcross-sectional dimensions that correspond to the internalcross-sectional dimensions of chambers 12 and 14. Plungers 21 and 23 canbe inserted into the back open ends of chambers 12 and 24, and provide afluid-tight seal when moved in chambers 12 and 14.

As is evident in particular from FIGS. 9 through 12, adapter 30, whichis in the form of a dispenser piece, has cylindrical back section 32.Cylindrical back section 32 has an external diameter such that backsection 32 can be inserted from above into the open front end of neck 15and is fluid tight when pushed and rotated within it. Circumferentialwall 31 that is directed inward and forward is formed along the internalsurface of cylindrical back section 32 at a distance from the back end.Circumferential wall 31 borders a truncated cone-shaped mixing chamber33 that is open at the rear. The narrower front end of circumferentialwall 31 turns into a tube-shaped structure that projects beyond thefront end of rear section 32, and represents front section 34 of adapter30. Dispensing channel 36 within front section 34 extends along thelength of adapter 30. The back end of dispensing channel 36 and thefront end of mixing chamber 33 merge.

Transverse cross member 35 that projects radially outwards is formed atthe front end of cylindrical back section 32. Locking arms 38 thatproject backward are formed at the underside of cross member 35, at adistance from the external circumference of the cylindrical back section32.

As is evident in particular from FIGS. 13 through 15, multiple-plugclosure 40 has two plugs 42 and 44 that are formed on the underside ofshared plate-shaped body 46. Plate-shaped body 46 that adjoins plugs 42and 44 comprises ground plate 64, intermediate plate 62 formed on thetop side of the ground plate, and cover plate 60 that represents thefront end of multiple-plug closure 40 is formed on the top side of theintermediate plate.

Two longitudinal channels 41 and 43 project downward from the top sideof cover plate 60 into plugs 42 and 44. Longitudinal channel 41 joinstransverse channel 45 that intersects plug 42 in a transverse direction.Longitudinal channel 43 joins transverse channel 47 that intersects plug44 transversely. Transverse channels 45 and 47 are provided at a presetdistance from the lower ends of plugs 42 and 44.

Cover plate 60 has a circular circumferential wall with a diameter thatis larger than that of intermediate plate 62. To produce a rotatingjoint between adapter 30 and multiple-plug closure 40, cover plate 60can be snapped from the back end of adapter 30 into ring-shaped mountinggroove 50 that is provided under circumferential wall 31 on the internalsurface of cylindrical back section 32 of adapter 30. The dimensions ofgroove 50 and cover plate 60 are coordinated in relation to each othersuch that cover plate 60 can rotate in groove 50. Removal of cover plate60 from groove 50 is prevented by ring-shaped shoulder 52 that isprovided at the back end of the internal surface of cylindrical backsection 32. In order to facilitate snapping the cover plate into groove50 during assembly, the surface of shoulder 52 that points radiallyinward is beveled as shown. Longitudinal sliding of cover plate 60upward or forward is limited by shoulder 54 that is provided on theunderside of circumferential wall 31.

Transverse rib 63 that is formed on the top side of cover plate 60interacts with two diametrically opposed recesses 53 in shoulder 54 suchthat rotatable multiple-plug closure 40 mounted in adapter 30 can beengaged and released at a predetermined angular or rotational position.Adapter 30 and multiple-plug closure 40 are thus designed such thatthese components form a single assembly 30, 40.

When inserting the assembly consisting of adapter 30 and multiple-plugclosure 40 into neck 15 of container 10 from the front or from above,plugs 42 and 44 penetrate outlet openings 11 and 13 of chambers 12 and14. Plugs 42 and 44 are dimensioned in relation to outlet openings 11and 13 such that the plugs in a first penetration position create afluid-tight seal with the back end sections of outlet openings 11 and13. Here, transverse channels 45 and 47 are located above front plate18. The back portion of plug 44 that has penetrated outlet opening 13has a cross-section that is four times larger than that of the backsection of plug 42 that penetrates outlet opening 11.

In a further second penetration position of plugs 42 and 44 pushedfurther down or back, transverse channels 45 and 47 are located belowfront plate 18 so that a fluid connection is created above transversechannels 45 and 47 along with longitudinal channels 41 and 43 betweenthe insides of chambers 12 and 14 and mixture chamber 33 and/ordispensing channel 36 of adapter 30. The internal cross-section oflongitudinal channel 43 is four times larger than that of longitudinalchannel 41. A corresponding relationship pertains to transverse channel47 in comparison to transverse channel 45.

To better guide multiple-plug closure 40 into neck 15, ground plate 64has a circumferential wall that fits over at least portions of thecircumference of the internal circumferential wall of neck 15.Projection 61 is formed and projects radially from such a portion of thecircumferential wall of the ground plate 64. Projection 61 interactsduring initial insertion of multiple-plug closure 40 into neck 15 withlongitudinal groove 71 that is formed along the internal surface of neck15, such that multiple-plug closure 40 can only be inserted into neck 15in a predetermined angular or rotational position such that plugs 42 and44 are aligned with outlet openings 11 and 13 of chambers 12 and 14.

Locking noses 70 that project radially outward from the top side offront plate 18 are formed at a predetermined distance from the externalcircumferential wall of neck 15. Additional locking noses 77 that aredisplaced by 90° in the circumferential direction in relation to lockingnoses 70 and are less distant from the front plate 18 are formed on andproject radially outward from the external circumferential wall of neck15. Locking noses 77 are located above a circumferential area of frontplate 18 in which recesses 17 are provided in front plate 18. Lockingnoses 77 project radially along recesses 17 beyond the external edge ofthe front plate 18, whereas locking noses 70 are provided in anunrecessed circumferential area of front plate 18, where front plate 18projects radially beyond locking noses 70.

Locking ridges 37 that point radially inward and longitudinally runningguide grooves 39 that border the underside of locking ridges 37 and runas far as the lower end of the locking arms are provided on the insideof the locking arms 38. Locking ridges 37 and guide grooves 39 interactwith locking noses 70 and 77. The front surface of the lower end oflocking arms 38 interacts with front plate 18. This interaction as wellas the assembly and operation of double-chamber ampoule 100 will bedescribed in the following, in particular with reference to FIGS. 1through 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, before placing the assembly consistingof adapter 30 and multiple-plug closure 40 into container 10, adapter 30and multiple-plug closure 40 are engaged at a predetermined rotationalposition relative to each other, such that transverse rib 63, or lockingridge, catches locking recesses 53. Assembly 30, 40 is pushed into neck15 of container 10 from above in this engaged state. In the process,projection 61 on multiple-plug closure 40 is aligned with longitudinalgroove 71 in neck 15. In this initial rotational position of assembly30, 40 in relation to container 10, locking arms 38 are aligned withlocking noses 70. As a result, the locking noses engage guide grooves 39when assembly 30, 40 is inserted in the initial rotational position, andplugs 42 and 44 penetrate outlet openings 11 and 13 of chambers 12 and14. If this first rotational position of adapter 30 is pushed further inthe direction of container 10, locking ridges 37 snap into locking noses70. This prevents movement of assembly 30, 40 upward from or toward neck15 of container 10. At the same time, continued pushing of assembly 30,40 in the direction of container 10 is limited in this locked state inthat the front surfaces at the lower end of locking arms 38 strike thetop side of front plate 18. In the process, a predetermined distance isreached between plate-shaped body 46 and front plate 18, and plugs 42and 44 penetrate just far enough into outlet openings 11 and 13 that theplugs create a fluid-tight seal with the outlet openings.

When plugs 42 and 44 are in the locked position, chambers 12 and 14 canbe filled with substances through their open back ends. After beingfilled with substances, chambers 12 and 14 are closed from behind withplungers 21 and 23 of the plunger assembly 20. This closed position dueto the plugs and the plungers is depicted in FIG. 1. The substancesfilling chambers 12 and 14 are not shown.

To activate double-chamber ampoule 100 that is filled with thesubstances, adapter 30 is rotated 90° in relation to container 10 to asecond rotational position. At the beginning of rotation to the secondrotational position, locking arms 38 are rotated sideways away fromlocking noses 70. Toward the end of the rotation, locking noses 77spring sideways into guide grooves 39. At the same time, locking arms 38come into alignment with recesses 17 in front plate 18. Recesses 17 infront plate 18 make it possible to push assembly 30, 40 further in thedirection of container 10. In the course of this pushing, plugs 42 and44 assume a flow position, in which transverse channels 45 and 47 arelocated within chambers 12 and 14. In the flow position of the plugs,locking arms 38 project downward beyond front plate 18, and lockingridges 37 snap over locking noses 77. Locking ridges 37 and lockingnoses 77 prevent assembly 30, 40 from being further moved forward or upfrom container 10 while the plugs are in the flow position. Furthermovement of assembly 30, 40 backward or down is prevented because theupper end of neck 15 strikes the underside of transverse cross member35. Alternatively, further movement of assembly 30, 40 while it is inthe flow position can also be prevented by the fact that plate-shapedbody 46 strikes front plate 18. This activated state of double-chamberampoule 100 is depicted in FIG. 2

By applying pressure to pressure plate 26 of plunger assembly 20, thesubstances contained in chambers 12 and 14 can now be expressed throughthe transverse and longitudinal channels of multiple-plug closure 40into mixing chamber 33 and dispensing channel 36, and then be dispensedthrough the tip at front section 34 of adapter 30. For better mixing ofthe substances, a static mixer that is not shown is provided in thedispenser channel.

Double-chamber ampoule 100 as depicted is meant for multiple use. Forthis reason, only a fractional portion of the substances contained inchambers 12 and 14 is dispensed during each application. After anapplication is completed, adapter 30 is rotated 45° in relation tocontainer 10 from the second rotational position to a third rotationalposition. This is possible because recess 17 is connected to a secondrecess 19, which makes rotation of the adapter from the second to thethird rotational position possible. During rotation of the adapter intothe third rotational position, locking arms 38 spring sideways out oflocking noses 77. As a result, it is possible when in the thirdrotational position to pull assembly 30, 40 out of container 10 bylifting it up. As described above, a new assembly 30, 40 can then beinserted into container 10 in the initial first rotational position.

Assembly 30, 40 can be replaced multiple times by a new assembly untilchambers 12 and 14 are completely empty. The empty state ofmultiple-chamber ampoule 100 is depicted in FIG. 3, in which caseassembly 30, 40 is in the second rotational position.

A second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 16 through 22 isalso provided in the form of a double-chamber ampoule. Accordingly,container 110 of the second embodiment of the invention depicted inFIGS. 16 through 18 has two chambers 112 and 114 that are arranged inparallel to each other with outlet openings 111 and 113 provided for infront plate 118. In contrast to container 10 of the first embodiment,chambers 112 and 114 have the same cross-sectional dimensions. The sameapplies to outlet openings 111 and 113.

As with container 10, neck 115 is formed on the top side of front plate118, into which the outlet openings 111 and 113 flow. In contrast tocontainer 10 in the first embodiment, however, the outside of neck 115and front plate 118 of container 110 of the second embodiment aredesigned differently. In other respects, container 110 and container 10are essentially the same.

As is evident from FIGS. 16 through 18, two locking noses 170 thatproject radially outward and two other locking noses 177 that projectradially outward are formed on the external circumferential wall of neck115. Locking noses 170 are placed at a predetermined distance from thetop side of front plate 118 and lie diametrically opposite to eachother. Locking noses 177 are placed at a shorter distance from the topside of front plate 118 and also lie diametrically opposite to eachother. Furthermore, in each case one of locking noses 177 is axiallyaligned with one of locking noses 170.

Two diagonally running ramps 172 are formed in an area of the externalcircumferential wall of the neck located between locking noses 170 and177, as also is evident from FIGS. 16 through 18. Ramps 172 liesymmetrically between locking noses 170 and 177, respectively that aredisplaced 180° in relation to each other and enclose an angular range ofapproximately 90° on the cylindrical outside of neck 115. Ramps 172 havea top side that extends from one end of the ramps on the top side offront plate 118 to the other end of the ramps on the top side of frontplate 118 at a predetermined distance. Viewed from the circumferentialdirection of neck 115, both opposing ramps 172 have the same helicalsense. The function of locking noses 170 and 177 as well as of ramps 172will be described below with reference to adapter 130 of the secondembodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 19 and 20.

Adapter 130 differs from adapter 30 in the first embodiment largely inthat locking arms 138 do not project as far down or back as in lockingarms 38 in the first embodiment. Locking arms 138 end shortly orimmediately behind locking ridge 137, which corresponds to locking ridge37 of adapter 30 in the first embodiment. Furthermore, as in the firstembodiment of the invention, adapter 130 is connected to multiple-plugclosure 140 depicted in FIGS. 21 and 22 such that it can rotate freely.The freely rotatable connection between adapter 130 and multiple-plugclosure 140 is depicted in detail in FIG. 23, which shows back section132 of adapter 130 and a front section of multiple-plug closure 140,each in cross-section. Multiple-plug closure 140 has ring-shaped coverplate 160 that is snapped into ring-shaped mounting groove 150 ofadapter 130. Mounting groove 150 of adapter 130 corresponds to mountinggroove 50 of adapter 30 of the first embodiment and, when viewedaxially, is limited at the back end by shoulder 152 and at the front endby shoulder 154. Shoulders 152 and 154 serve as a bearing surface forcover plate 160.

Two locking noses 163 that project axially are formed on the top side ofcover plate 160 in diametrically opposing positions and have thefunction of transverse rib 63 of cover plate 60 and interact with twodiametrically opposing recesses 153 in shoulder 154 such that rotatablemultiple-plug closure 140 mounted on adapter 130 can be engaged andreleased at a predetermined angular or rotational position. Furthermore,as with multiple-plug closure 40, multiple-plug closure 140 has twoplugs 142 and 144, which, however, have the same cross-section;plate-shaped body 146, consisting of cover plate 160, intermediate plate162, and ground plate 164; as well as two longitudinal channels 141 and143 and two transverse channels 145 and 147. Radially projectingprojection 161 is formed on the circumferential wall of ground plate 164and interacts with longitudinal groove 171 in the inner surface of neck115 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment of theinvention. The structure and operation of the multi-chamber ampouleaccording to the second embodiment is explained below.

As in the first embodiment of the invention, before attaching theassembly consisting of adapter 130 and multiple-plug closure 140 tocontainer 110, adapter 130 and multiple-plug closure 140 are engaged ina predetermined rotational position, in which locking noses 163 catchthe locking recesses. In this engaged state, assembly 130, 140 is pushedinto neck 115 of container 110 from above. As a result, projection 161on multiple-plug closure 140 is aligned with longitudinal groove 171 inneck 115. In this rotational position of assembly 130, 140 in relationto container 110, locking arms 138 are aligned with locking noses 170.Because of this, when assembly 130, 140 is pushed in, locking ridges 137strike the upper beveled section of locking noses 170, and plugs 142 and144 begin to penetrate into outlet openings 111 and 113 of chambers 112and 114. If in this position the adapter 130 is pushed further intocontainer 110, locking ridges 137 snap over locking noses 170. Thisprevents a back movement of assembly 130, 140 up or forward out of neck115 of the container 110. In this blocked or locked state, plugs 142 and144 have penetrated sufficiently far into outlet openings 111 and 113that the plugs create a fluid-tight seal with the outlet openings.

Once the above-described closed position of the plugs is achieved inwhich locking ridges 137 have just snapped into locking noses 170, thefront surfaces of the lower end of locking arms 138 are at a distancefrom the top side of front plate 118. This occurs because in the secondembodiment of the invention locking arms 138 are shorter than lockingarms 38 in the first embodiment. However, at a suitable position betweenadapter 130 and container 110, a stop piece is preferably provided inthe second embodiment, not shown in the Figure, which prevents continuedpushing of assembly 130, 140 downward or backward in the direction ofcontainer 110 beyond the closed position of plugs 142 and 144. Such astop piece can, for example, consist of a clip that can be torn off byhand and which is formed on adapter 130 or on container 110, and whichstrikes the upper side of front plate 118 of container 110 when theabove-described closed position of plugs 142 and 144 is reached.

As in the first embodiment of the invention when plugs 142 and 144 arein the closed position, chambers 112 and 114 can be filled withsubstances through their open back end and then closed off withplungers. To activate a double-chamber ampoule that is filled withsubstances according to the second embodiment, the above-mentioned stoppiece is removed, and the adapter and multiple-plug closure assembly130, 140 are pushed further backward in the direction of container 110.In the course of this movement, locking ridges 137 snap over lockingnoses 177, while at the same time plugs 142 and 144 assume the flowposition. Locking ridges 137 that snap over locking noses 177 preventassembly 130, 140 from being pushed forward or up from container 110while in the flow position. Pushing assembly 130, 140 further back ordown is prevented because the front surfaces of the lower end of lockingarms 138 strike the top side of front plate 118.

With regard to the above-mentioned stop piece, FIGS. 24 and 25 show anembodiment of slidable clip 180 on cylindrical back section 132 ofadapter 130. Clip 180 consists of open ring-shaped section 182, which,for example, extends over 270°, and pull tab 184 that is formed at aposition diametrically opposite the opening in ring-shaped section 182on the outside of ring-shaped section 182 in the manner shown. When slidopen, clip 180 strikes the top side of neck 115 of container 110, and inthis manner prevents adapter 130 from being pushed beyond the closedposition when the multichamber ampoule is activated. Clip 180 is pulledoff of back section 132 by grabbing hold of pull tab 184 beforeactivating the multichamber ampoule.

With the clip 180 pulled off of back section 132, the double-chamberampoule according to the second embodiment of the invention is now inthe activated state. In the activated state, pressure exerted on theplungers in chambers 112 and 114 dispenses the substances contained inthe chambers through the transverse and longitudinal channels ofmultiple-plug closure 140 into mixing chamber 133 of adapter 130. Thesubstances are dispensed in a mixed state out through the front tip ofadapter 130.

The double-chamber ampoule according to the second embodiment of theinvention is envisioned for either single use or multiple use, just likedouble-chamber ampoule 100 according to the first embodiment. Inmultiple use, only a fractional portion of the substances stored inchambers 112 and 114 are dispensed during any single application. Afteran application is completed, adapter 130 is rotated out of its originalinserted position in container 110. When adapter 130 is rotated, lockingarms 138 spring sideways out of locking noses 177, and the frontsurfaces of the lower ends of locking arms 138 reach ramps 172 that rundiagonally upward or forward.

In the course of rotating adapter 130 further in relation to container110, adapter 130 is pushed away upward or forward from container 110 byramps 172. In the process, multiple-plug closure 140 that is connectedwith adapter 130 such that it can rotate is also pulled forward orupward. The gradient of ramps 172 is calculated such that beforereaching the foremost end of the ramp, plugs 142 and 144 have beenalmost completely pulled out of outlet openings 111 and 113. Assembly130, 140 can then be removed from neck 115 of container 110 withouteffort. A new assembly 130, 140 can then be inserted into container 110.

It should be mentioned that the multichamber ampoule according to theinvention can either be applied directly by hand by using the plungerassembly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, or by using a known dispensing gun.When using a dispensing gun, the plunger rods including pressure plateshown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are omitted. In that case, plungers in the formof plugs that are directly activated by the output gun are used in thecontainer chambers.

In order to enable snap closure between locking arms 38, 138 of adapter30, 130 and locking noses 70, 77, 170, 177 as well as releasableengagement between transverse rib 63 or locking noses 163 and lockingrecesses 53, 153, the interacting portions of the components must bemanufactured out of a material that allows for a certain elasticity.Thermoplastics such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate,polypropylene, cycloolefin copolymers, and the like, that areprocessable by compression molding or injection molding are preferredfor manufacturing the parts of the multichamber ampoule according to theinvention.

The above-described embodiments of the invention should not be viewed aslimitations on the invention. Rather, one skilled in the art can makechanges and alterations that are still within the scope of theinvention. Thus, for example, the ramps can enclose an angular rangeother than 90°. Moreover, for example, instead of a ramp on the neck ofthe container, a bevel can be formed on the adapter or on both theadapter and the container. At the same time, the specified engaging andlocking mechanisms can be varied in various ways while serving the samefunction.

With regard to the above-cited bevels on the adapter and/or containers,see FIGS. 26 through 33. The same reference numbers are used in FIGS. 26through 33 to represent what are essentially the same components as inFIGS. 1 through 15. Altered or additional characteristics are identifiedwith additional reference numbers. In addition, for the sake of clarityonly container 10 and the adapter 30 are depicted in FIGS. 26 through33.

FIGS. 26 through 29 serve to explain a first further development of thefirst embodiment of the invention. As is evident from FIGS. 26 and 28,bevel 274 is provided on the lower or rear end of locking arm 38. As isevident from FIGS. 27 and 29, recess 19 has been omitted from frontplate 18 of container 10.

FIG. 26 shows the position between adapter 30 and container 10 in theclosed position. Here, locking ridge 37 is snapped in behind lockingnose 70, and the lowest or hindmost end of locking arm 38 that is nottouched by bevel 274 strikes front plate 18 of the container in order toprevent movement while in the activated position.

To activate, adapter 30 is rotated 90° as in the first embodiment of theinvention, and then pushed downward or backward until locking ridge 37snaps over locking nose 77. To remove adapter 30 and multiple-plugclosure 40, which is not depicted, adapter 30 is rotated further in thesame direction. Because of the distance between bevel 274 and the edgeof recess 17, which is shown in FIG. 28, this continued rotation ofadapter 30 ends in the unlocked state. Subsequently, bevel 274 catchesrecess 17 and pushes adapter 30 together with multiple-plug closure 40,which is not depicted, up and out of neck 15 of container 10.

FIGS. 30 through 33 serve to explain a second development of the firstembodiment of the invention. As is evident from FIGS. 30 and 32,rectangular recess 376 is provided in the right half of the lowersection of locking arm 38 shown in the diagram, which extends at most tothe lower side of locking ridge 37. The left half of the section oflocking ridge 37 shown in the diagram is in the form of bevel 374 asindicated.

As is evident from FIGS. 30 through 33, two diametrically opposed ramps372 are formed on the top side of front plate 18. FIG. 30 shows therelationship between container 10 and adapter 30 when the multichamberampoule is in the closed state. Here, locking ridge 37 is snapped inbehind locking nose 70. Pushing adapter 30 downward or backward beyondthe closed position is prevented by the fact that the lowest or hindmostend of bevel 374 strikes the top side of front plate 18 and/or the upperedge of recess 376 at the top side of ramp 372. Ramp 372 is shaped insuch a way that it is at its greatest distance from the top side offront plate 18 where it is at locking nose 70, and this decreases fromthere in the direction of recess 19 until it reaches the level of frontplate 18.

In order to activate the multichamber ampoule in the first developmentof the first embodiment of the invention, adapter 30 is rotated by 90°in relation to container 10 and is then pushed down into the positionshown in FIG. 32. In this connection, it should be noted that whenrotating from the closed position depicted in FIG. 30, the end locatedat locking nose 70 represents a catch that allows rotation in only onedirection. In the example depicted, the direction of rotation is to theright.

To remove adapter 30, including multiple-plug closure 40, which is notdepicted, adapter 30 is rotated further to the right and out of theposition shown in FIG. 32. Because of the distance between the edge ofrecess 19 and bevel 374, the adapter first assumes the unlockedposition. When then rotated to the right, bevel 374 runs up the edge ofrecess 19 and reaches the top side of ramp 372. The dimensions of ramp372 and of the bevel are such that when rotation of adapter 30 out ofthe activated position is continued, locking arm 38 is pushed up so farthat before reaching locking nose 70, locking ridge 37 is lifted overlocking nose 70 so that accidental locking is avoided when removingadapter 30.

While there has been shown and described what are at present consideredthe preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by theappended claims.

1. A multichamber ampoule to dispense a mixture consisting of severalsubstances, said ampoule comprising: a container with at least twochambers that are arranged parallel to each other, and each of whichpossesses an open back end to feed in one of the substances andsubsequently insert a plunger into the chamber, and a front end that isprovided with an outlet opening, and a hollow cylindrical neck formed atthe front ends of the chambers into which all of the outlet openings ofthe chambers feed; a multiple-plug closure that can be inserted into theneck with a plate-shaped body and with at least two plugs provided on anunderside of the body, each of said plugs project from the underside ofthe body downward and penetrate the outlet opening of one of thechambers when the multiple-plug closure is inserted into the neck, inwhich case the multiple-plug closure is formed such that the plugsassume a closed position in a first penetration position in which theoutlet openings have a fluid-tight seal; and in a second penetrationposition assume a flow position when pushed further back, in which casefluid is permitted to flow through the outlet openings; an adapter witha dispenser channel passing through the adapter, and with a cylindricalback section that fits with the hollow cylindrical neck, the adapterbeing fluid tight when connected to the multiple-plug closure in theneck and in an inserted state can be pushed and rotated, when rotatingthe adaptor causes the adaptor to move backward and also causes theplugs to move from a locked position to a flow position; and, a lockingmechanism formed on the container and adapter, which interact such thatthey prevent the adapter from being slid forward from the lockedposition into the flow position once the plugs have been slid by theadapter; wherein the plate-shaped body of the multiple-plug closure ismounted at the back section of the adapter such that it can be rotated,and the locking mechanism is formed such that the adapter can be rotatedinto an unlocked position relative to the multiple-plug closure that isnot rotatable in the outlet openings of the chambers, in the unlockedposition the adapter is no longer locked and can be removed from theneck of the container together with the multiple-plug closure and isseparable from the container.
 2. The multichamber ampoule according toclaim 1, in which a bevel is formed on the container and/or on theadapter, which when the adapter is rotated in the unlocked position willpull the adapter together with the multiple-plug closure from thecontainer.
 3. The multichamber ampoule according to claim 2, in which aramp is formed on the neck of the container.
 4. The multichamber ampouleaccording to claim 1, in which a stop piece is provided between thecontainer and the adapter, which interacts such that when the adapter isfirst inserted into the container, a backward movement of themultiple-plug closure that is caused by the adapter is limited fromgoing beyond the closed position of the plugs.
 5. The multichamberampoule according to claim 4, in which the stop piece possesses aremovable pull tab formed on the container and/or on the adapter, whichafter its removal allows the adapter to be slid back further toward thecontainer from the closed position to the flow position of the plugs. 6.The multichamber ampoule according to claim 1, in which other lockingmechanisms are formed on the adapter and container, which, when theadapter is initially inserted into the container, interact such thatthey prevent the adapter from being slid forward once the plugs havereached the closed position.
 7. The multichamber ampoule according toclaim 1, in which the container has a front plate that extends at aright angle to a longitudinal axis of the chambers, that is formed witha bottom plate surface on the front ends of the chambers, and in whichthe outlet openings of the chambers are formed, and the container neckpossesses an open front end and a back end formed on an upper platesurface of the front plate, which surround the outlet openings of thechambers that are provided in the front plate.
 8. The multichamberampoule according to claim 1, in which a transverse cross member isformed on the adapter onto which are formed locking arms that projectbackward, which run backward and parallel to an external circumferentialwall of the container neck when the back section of the adapter isinserted into the neck of the container, and in which the locking nosesthat are formed on the external circumferential wall of the containerneck interact with the locking arms.
 9. The multichamber ampouleaccording to claim 3, in which during rotation of the adapter into theunlocked position, lower front surfaces of the locking arms run up theramp.
 10. The multichamber ampoule according to claim 7, in which thefront plate of the container extends radially beyond an externalcircumferential wall of the container neck, and in which when firstinserting the adapter into the container in a first rotational positionbetween the adapter and the container, the locking arms strike the upperplate surface of the front plate when the closed position is reachedwhen movement of the multiple-plug closure is effected by the adapter.11. The multichamber ampoule according to claim 10, in which the adaptercan be rotated out of the first rotational position into a secondrotational position, in which the locking arms of the adapter areprovided with recesses in the front plate so that the adapter can bepushed further back while in the second rotational position, in whichthe locking arms project back beyond the front plate of the containerand prevent further forward movement of the adapter once themultiple-plug closure has assumed the flow position of the plugs as aresult of movement effected by the adapter.
 12. The multichamber ampouleaccording to claim 11, in which the recesses in the front plate extendover an angular range from the second rotational position to an unlockedthird rotational position, so that the locked adapter in the secondrotational position can be rotated out of the locked position and intothe third rotational position, in which the adapter can be removed alongwith the multiple-plug closure by pulling forward.
 13. The multichamberampoule according to claim 1, in which a catch is formed on the backsection of the adapter and on the plate-shaped body of the multiple-plugclosure, which interact such that the adapter and the multiple-plugclosure can be engaged with each other in a predetermined rotationalangle position.
 14. The multichamber ampoule according claim 1, in whicha projection that projects out at a right angle is formed on theplate-shaped body of the multiple-plug closure, and which interacts witha longitudinal groove on an inside of the neck in such a way that themultiple-plug closure can only be inserted in a predetermined rotationalangular position into the container neck; and in which the plugs of themultiple-plug closure are aligned with the outlet openings of thechambers allocated to them.
 15. The multichamber ampoule according toclaim 1, in which the chambers have different cross-sectionaldimensions; and in which the plunger, the outlet openings, and the plugshave dimensions that fit to them.